Stand for washtubs



(No Model) J. EBERT.

' STAND FOR WASHTUBS.

No. 583,013. Patqnted May 18, 1897.

Ivy V UNITED ATENT Enron.

'JULIUS EBERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STAND FOR WASHTUBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,013, dated May 18, 1897. Application filed August '7, 1896. Serial No- 602,012. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JULIUS EBERT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stands for VVashtubs; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to devices which are used in the laundry, and more especially to that class thereof known as wash-benches,

and the object of the same is to produce an improved folding stand for supporting tubs.

To this end the invention consists of the stand hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, as fully shown in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of this stand set up for use, showing also a tub. as resting thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of the joint with the nearer leg removed and the legs remaining turned, (for the sake of greater clearness,) so that they do not quite rest upon each other as in actual use. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the joint and all the legs, the latter being folded into the closest possible compass.

Supports of this general character have been heretofore made embodying four legs passing through a frame and so pivoted therein that they could be made to stand parallel when the device was folded or could be turned to corresponding oblique positions and there held by the frame when the device was in use. rienoed, however, in providing means of adjustment whereby the pivotal point could be raised or lowered at will, so as to give the desired length to that part of the legs above the pivot and produce a supporting-base at the top of varying sizes, according to the sizeof the object to be supported. Devices of this character are subjected to great strain at the pivotal point, and it is found that the legs are considerably weakened by forming therein the necessary pivot-holes, and this objection I also seek to overcome.

Referring to the said drawings, L L are two legs, and L L are the other two legs. All these are preferably of hard wood of the de- Oonsiderable difficulty has been expesired size and length and of a shape in crosssection best seen in Fig. 3, with their sides beveled off, so as to permit them to fold into close compass, and their upper and lower extremities are also preferably so shaped as to give them a firm bearing upon the floor and beneath the object to be supported, as will be understood. The lower extremities only are'shown in Fig. 1, as the upper extremities are hidden by the chime of the tub. The inner faces of all the legs are provided with a series of sockets Z, or each leg may have but a single socket if it is not desired to permit of adjustment of the pivotal point, and the two diametrically opposite legs L are provided in their outer faces opposite such sockets with smaller sockets or holes Z for the reception of screw-tips, as described below, or these holes may be omitted and the tips of the screws will form them when forcibly screwed into place. In any event the sockets Z and corresponding opposite holes Z are by preference too shallow to connect at their inner ends and are of as small bore as possible consistent with the strength the device must have.

V P is a plate or casting, preferably hollow at its center for the sake of lightness and eX- teriorly square, and projecting from the centers of its four sides are studs or pins p of proper sizes and lengths to loosely engage the sockets Z.

F is a stout frame (also preferably casting) having a square opening through its center of proper size to embrace the four legs and preferably having its upper edge at the corresponding side of each corner notched, as at 1, so as to receive the corner of one leg.

S S are screws which pass through holes 3 in diametrically opposite sides of the frame F and have their tips entered into the holes Z, as above mentioned, or making those holes where needed when forcibly screwed in.

To set up this improved stand, the operator first determines where he desires the pivotal point to be, and, locating the socketsZ of the four legs which correspond with that point, he passes them over the four pins 13 of the plate P, the legs being arranged so that legs L and L shall be opposite each other and the others between them and all four parallel. The frame F is then brought into play and is passed downward over the folded legs, its notches f being uppermost and its holes 3 opposite the legs L, which have the holes Z. Finally the frame is adjusted to a point directly opposite the plate and the screws S screwed inward through the threaded holes 5 in the frame, with their tips standing in (or forcibly making) the holes Z, which are opposite the sockets 1, containing the pins 1). The parts then stand as seen in Fig. 3, and when it is desired to set up the stand for use the legs are opened outward by turning them all in one direction around the axis until their corners rest in the notches f, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The tub or other object be ing then placed upon the separated upper ends of the legs each of the latter is borne down on at its top, so that its center where it passes through the frame rests upon the leg next forward and in the notch f and also rests beneath the leg next to the rear, its corner at this point possibly entering the bot tom notch j, which may be there provided in the frame similar to the uotchf. Hence, by the shape of the frame and the beveled sides of the legs, the device would support its lead even if the entire plate and both screws were omitted. The object of the screws is to prevent the frame from falling downward when the legs are folded together, and hence these screws maybe as small as possible, since there is no strain on them.

The object of .the plate and pins is to permit the legs to be turned simultaneously in either direction without allowing them to disarrange their adjustment within the frame, and hence this plate and its pins may also be quite small. The frame should, however, be of sufficient size and strength to withstand the strain upon it and all holes or soeketsin the legs quite small in order to avoid weakening them.

After using the stand the same may be agai n folded into small compass, as for storage or transportation, and its parts are disconnected, as below, for the purpose of cleansing or repair. If it is desired to adjust the pivotal point so that it shall stand, say, higher in order to make the stand larger where it rests upon the floor and smaller at its top, the screws S are first removed and the frame F withdrawn from the legs. The latter are then taken off the pins 1), the plate I raised to the proper point, and corresponding sockets Z in the several legs passed over the pins 1), the frame replaced and moved down opposite the plate, and, finally, the screws reinserted through the holes s and passed into two diametrically opposite legs L L, either forcibly making their own holes or else entering the holes Z if they are there provided. It will be obvious that there might be but a single socket in each leg if it were not desired to provide the stand with an adjustable pivot; also, nails or pins might be substituted for the screws. However, I consider the construetion illustrated as preferable in all essential particulars.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a folding stand, the combination with an even number of legs having their sides converging inwardly, and a central plate having radial pins passing partly into said legs; of a frame surrounding said legs opposite the plate and having a plurality of flat interior faces standing against the outer faces of the legs, the upper edge of the frame having notches at corresponding sides of all its a11- gles, each leg when standing oblique having one side resting upon the leg next forward and its corner in the notch of the frame and its other side resting beneath the leg next in rear, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding stand, the combination with four legs of angular erosssection, and a central plate having radial pins passing into said legs only; of a square frame surrounding the legs opposite the plate and standing against their outer faces, the upper edge of the frame having notches at corresponding sides of all its angles and the lower edge having notches at opposite sides of such angles, each leg when standing oblique resting at one corner within one upper notch of the frame and at the other corner beneath the lower notch thereof next in rear, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In al'olding stand, the combination with a series of legs having sockets in their inner faces, and a central plate having radiallyprojecting pins removably entering the sockets; of a frame surrounding the legs, and screws passing inward through the frame and into certain of the legs at points opposite said sockets therein, as and for the purpose set forth.

l. In a folding stand, the combination with a series of legs each provided in its inner face with a series of sockets, and an adjustable plate having projecting pins on its edges entering such sockets; of a frame surrounding the legs, and mean-s substantially as described for adjustably attaching such frame to certain of the legs at points opposite the sockets engaged by the pins, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a folding stand, the combination with four legs, each of two opposite legs having a series of holes in its outer face, and a central plate having radial pins adapted to enter the inner faces of all the legs at points opposite sueh holes; of a square frame surroumling the legs and having holes through opposite sides, and screws removably passing through such holes and into one pair of the holes in the legs, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature on this the 29th day of July, A; l). 18%.

JULIUS EBERT.

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